Weekend Wrap-Up – Whole Foods, FreeTime, and International Expansion

Amazon Prime launches in Australia

After a slow launch, Australians will soon be gaining access to Amazon Prime. The service will be significantly less expensive than in the US, coming in at A$59, or around US$45, for a one-year subscription. The Australian version of the service offers many of the same benefits, although it has a less extensive product range and cannot offer users same-day or next-day shipping. This move signals Amazon’s ongoing efforts to achieve international dominance.

Whole Foods discounts for Prime members to be nationwide

Starting June 27, Amazon will be offering Prime members “10 percent off hundreds of sale items and deep discounts on select popular products” at Whole Foods Markets across the US. Shoppers will also save on grocery delivery through Prime Now. To use a Prime account in-store, customers will need to use the Whole Foods Market app on their smartphone at checkout. Amazon’s push to integrate Whole Foods with their core marketplace shows their continued dedication to both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar dominance, as well as influence in the CPG and grocery industries.

Amazon is the 4th largest advertiser in the US

According to AdAge, “Amazon ranked as the nation’s fourth-largest advertiser in 2017, up from No. 8 in 2016 and No. 70 in 2010. Amazon last year spent an estimated $3.4 billion on U.S. advertising and promotions, up 28 percent.” This doesn’t appear to include third-party sellers and brands buying advertising on the Amazon Marketplace.